‘Bob and the Trees’ Tops Karlovy Vary Prizes

'Bob and the Trees' Tops Karlovy Vary Prizes

The Karlovy Vary grand jury (U.S. exhibitor Tim League; Angelina Nikonova, Russia; Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Iceland; Hangameh Panahi, France; Ondrej Zach, Czech Republic) has awarded Karlovy Vary’s $25,000 Grand Prix Crystal Globe to Massachusetts-based French director Diego Ongaro’s first feature, “Bob and the Trees.” Starring the real life Bob Tarasuk, a logger and farmer from Bridgeport, Connecticut, the film was developed out of a documentary short Ongaro made about Tarasuk in 2010. The vérite-style film world-premiered at Sundance.

The Special Jury Prize of $15,000 went to the Austrian film “Those Who Fall Have Wings,” written and directed by Peter Brunner, who studied under Michael Haneke at the Filmacademy Vienna. This is his second feature.

The best director award went to Kosovo’s Visar Morina for the film “Babai,” about a young boy forced to grow up fast when his father abandons him. Financed by Germany, Kosovo, Macedonia and France.

Czech actress Alena Mihulová, who received a prolonged standing ovation at the premier of “Home Care,” was awarded best actress for her beautiful portrayal of a home-care nurse dying of cancer. Paired with the great Czech actor Boleslav Polívka, Mihulová brings a rare grace to the screen. Call it soul. Financing came from Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.

Another Czech actor, Kryštof Hádek, won the best actor prize for his role in the film “The Snake Brothers,” directed by Jan Prušinovskÿ. Hádek costars with his brother Matēj in this drama set in a small town. It’s a Czech production.

“The Wednesday Child,” a Hungary and Germany production directed by Lili Horváth, received the $20,000 East of the West Award. The East of the West jury is comprised of Gaby Babić, Germany; Alexis Grivas, Greece: Tomáš Luňák, Czech Republic; Ivan I. Tverdovsky, Russia; and Olena Yershova, Ukraine. The jury gave a special mention to the Romanian film, “The World is Mine,” directed by Nicolae Constantin Tānase.

More prizes below:

DOCUMENTARY FILMS – COMPETITION

DOCUMENTARY FILMS JURY

Paolo Bertolin, Italy

Teodora Ana Mihai, Romania

Ivana Pauerová Miloševič, Czech Republic

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM OVER 60 MINUTES (5 000 USD)

Mallory

Directed by: Helena Třeštíková

Czech Republic, 2015

SPECIAL JURY MENTION

The Father Tapes / Vaterfilm

Directed by: Albert Meisl

Austria, 2015

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM UNDER 30 MINUTES (5 000 USD)

White Death / Muerta Blanca

Directed by: Roberto Collío

Chile, 2015

SPECIAL JURY MENTION

Women in Sink

Directed by: Iris Zaki

Great Britain, Israel, 2015

FORUM OF INDEPENDENTS – COMPETITION

FORUM OF INDEPENDENTS JURY

Katrin Gebbe, Germany

Michael Málek, Czech Republic

Yeo Joon Han, Malaysia

FORUM OF INDEPENDENTS AWARD

The winning film will be purchased by Czech Television for the flat fee of 5000 EUR.

Awarded by the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and The Mediterranean (FEDEORA) to the best film from East of the West – Competition

FEDEORA JURY

Ronald Bergan, United Kingdom

James Evans, United Kingdom

Dubravka Lakić, Serbia

Heavenly Nomadic / Sutak

Directed by: Mirlan Abdykalykov

Kyrgysztan, 2015

The Wednesday Child / Szerdai gyerek

Directed by: Lili Horváth

Hungary, Germany 2015

EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL AWARD

For the best European film in the Official Selection – Competition and in the East of the West – Competition.

EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL JURY

Erika Borsos, Hungary

Caroline Dragacci, France

David O’Mahony, Ireland

Jens Schneiderheinze, Germany

Babai

Directed by: Visar Morina

Germany, Kosovo, Macedonia, France, 2015

WORKS IN PROGRESS 2015

15 selected projects were presented in the Works in Progress 2015. The most promising project selected by the International Jury received the award of 10 000 Euros in services from the event’s partner Barrandov Studios.